As the curtain’s close on his final semester at Chapman High School, Will Thorne is preparing for his starring role in Beauty and The Beast and what lies ahead for him in college.

“I’m trying to prepare for the show and put my 100% into being Lumiere,” Thorne said.

Thorne is not only finishing up his acting career at Chapman but also trying to establish something brand new for the students of Chapman High.

“I’m trying to start the debate club at Chapman,” Thorne said. ”I feel that hearing each other’s opinions is a great way for us to grow as people and students.”

The club meets in Mrs. Hollifield’s room, 212, on Wednesdays at 3:30.

Thorne is acting and establishing clubs, but his biggest goal this year is to just be himself.

“I just want to learn more about what type of person I am,” Thorne said,”I just don’t want to be someone that I’m not.”

Even with his final act at Chapman imminent, Thorne is not done with theatre after CHS.

“I want to go to USC Upstate and major in theatre,” Thorne said. ”I would want to teach theatre and let people see how great it is on stage.”

For now, Thorne is rehearsing his finale, his swan song preparing for the lights to fade and the curtains to close on his greatest performance yet: a student at Chapman High School.